The right to free expression is a resource that we can make use of thanks to the passage of time and the evolution of society. Today we can enjoy the freedom to defend points of view and opinions on different issues of interest to society without being repressed.
The media have the power to educate, inform and edify citizens, as long as the message is transmitted within the framework of objectivity, transparency and due respect.
Part of the skills of a communication professional is knowing how to navigate between debates without losing your composure. Maintaining an atmosphere of respect is essential when communicating regardless of the topic being discussed at the time, no matter what sidewalk we are on.
Each individual has the right to think and express himself according to his thoughts. As long as it is the healthy debate of ideas and respect. Understanding this is essential to avoid conflicts.
In recent days, the heated debate took place between Senator Iván Lorenzo and Ramón Tolentino who, during an on-air speech, spoke to the senator in a hostile and contemptuous manner as a result of some statements and actions in Congress by the senator.
Regardless of the topic under discussion, it should be kept in mind that the content of the message is more important than its packaging. Arguing on solid grounds without appealing to the personal to assert our point of view. It is proven that the one who speaks the loudest is not the one who is right. On the contrary, many times our actions to assert a position can play us in reverse and play against us.
Learning to ask the right questions and persuade audiences to reflect on the point of view we want to highlight is an art that many people have. But that few dominate, due to the little ability to dominate emotions.
The impact is not in what is said, but in the way it is done, the success or failure of our exchange will depend on this.
It requires courage and bravery to accept when we have been wrong. This is what the communicator Ramón Tolentino has done, who apologized to his listeners, not for expressing his point of view honestly, which is respected, but for the way in which he addressed his guest, knowing that he could have addressed his ideas otherwise.
The way in which we address others accompanied by due respect for people is non-negotiable and will directly influence the reaction of their actions towards us. With the developed ability to control our voice and our words, we can stop a possible confrontation or initiate an unnecessary crisis.
If we want to avoid this type of situation, we must control the effect of reactivity, by reacting immediately without meditation to messages or actions that may be provocative towards us.
Finally, something that does not fail, and we can advise as a mantra of assertive communication is to practice the acronym ¨POPLA¨: I stop, I observe, I think and then I act.
